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UML creates four-way tie for Hockey East lead

By Chaz Scoggins, chaz@lowellsun.com

Updated:
02/27/2013 11:19:09 AM EST

CHESTNUT HILL -- What a difference four months can make.

UML 4, BC 2

Back at the end of October when defending national and Hockey East champion Boston College was in the midst of a 10-game winning streak and swept a weekend series from UMass Lowell, some observers were predicting a runaway for the Eagles.

The River Hawks were breaking in nine freshmen and would go just 4-7-1 in their first 12 games, leaving their fans wondering what was wrong with the team that had been in the NCAA Tournament six months earlier.

Now it's the end of February. The Eagles have proved to be mortal, the River Hawks are one of the hottest teams in the country, and both of them are locked in a four-way tie with Providence and New Hampshire for first place.

The surging River Hawks stretched their winning streak to five games -- and beat a nationally-ranked team for the fifth straight time -- by trimming BC, 4-2, Tuesday before a turnout of 3,708 at the Conte Forum.

The River Hawks, Eagles, Wildcats, and Friars are all knotted at the top with 28 points, while Merrimack's a point back and Boston University two behind in the tightest race in Hockey East history.

But the fourth-ranked Eagles are 8-8-3 since that 10-game winning streak while the 10th-ranked River Hawks are 15-2-1 in their last 18 games.

"We certainly wanted to find out if we've improved," said an understated UML coach Norm Bazin, harkening back to the last time his team played BC. "I think we've improved in several areas.

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I like the way we're playing."

Freshman defenseman Christian Folin's goal with 4:47 left in regulation snapped a 2-2 deadlock and lifted the River Hawks to their victory.

Folin has four goals and 16 points in his last 17 games, and all four goals have come in the clutch, either tying the score or putting UML ahead, including an overtime game-winner against Northeastern last month.

"We knew he was somebody who had some offense," said Bazin about recruiting the Swedish defenseman, who had been a remarkable plus-44 in junior hockey last winter. "But he clearly has a flair for the dramatic."

BC (18-9-3) had tied the game at 2-2 on a power-play goal by Bill Arnold, his second goal of the game, at 8:40 of the third period, a play in which the Eagles were clearly off-sides but no linesman was in position to see it.

But the River Hawks (19-9-3, 13-8-2) shook that off and won the game less than seven minutes later.

Joseph Pendenza led a 3-on-2 rush up the left side and put the puck in the slot for Folin.

"Joe gave it to me and I gave it right back to him," Folin said. "He took a shot and somehow the puck ended up back on my stick, and I just batted it home."

Riley Wetmore sealed the victory with an empty-net goal with 47 seconds left, his 14th of the season and fifth in the last six games.

"We responded to their goal. That was the key turning point," Bazin said.

It was the second time in the game the River Hawks responded to a game-tying goal by the Eagles.

Sizzling Scott Wilson put UML ahead with another laser goal, this one from the top of the right circle during a power play at 10:41 of the first period.

BC tied up the game less than two minutes later when some pretty passing set up Bill Arnold for a goal at the top of the crease. But Josh Holmstrom returned the lead to the River Hawks just 23 seconds later, beating Parker Milner from low in the slot after a pass from Pendenza.

After three goals in a span of 2:22, neither team scored again until the third period.

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